Background
During the period of the Egyptian New Kingdom, the Levant was a source of wealth and an important strategic and trading route for the major powers of the period. The city states of Canaan and Syria were wealthy but were prone to incessant power struggles amongst themselves. Because of this they could not unite and become a power in their own right and the Egyptian pharaohs subjugated the cities of Canaan and Syria in order to control the region.
Perhaps encouraged by Mitanni, in 1481 BC, a coalition of Canaanite and Syrian cities rebelled against Egyptian rule, led by the kings of Qadesh and Megiddo. They planned to halt the advance of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Thutmose III as far south as possible and therefore chose the city of Megiddo as their site for defence.
The Campaign
Thutmose led his army, consisting of two divisions plus the ‘royal division’ into Canaan. The two main divisions of Amun and P’Re both consisted of about 500 chariots and 5000 infantry, with the third division comprising the Pharaoh’s royal division of chariotry.
The Canaanites deployed their forces in a position of strength near the city of Megiddo, covering the likely approaches that the Egyptians would take. Against the advice of his generals, Thutmose led his army through the direct, but more dangerous route along the Aruna Road. This took the army through a narrow pass in the mountains surrounding the plain of Esdraelon.
Luckily for Thutmose, the Canaanites did not expect him to take this course of action and did not prepare an ambush. He had time to move his army through the pass and deploy before the Canaanites acted and redeployed. Early the following morning, the Egyptians charged the Canaanite army, which fled in panic towards Megiddo.
The battle was over almost before it began due to Pharaoh’s bold tactics. The Canaanites fled abandoning their chariots before the gates of Megiddo, which closed its gates upon part of their army, who were abandoned to the Egyptians. The city withstood a seven month siege before surrendering to Thutmose.
The Wargames Scenario:
The battle as it occurred historically does not present a very exciting wargames battle. For the purposes of our scenario, we will assume that the Canaanites stayed and fought! The battle will utilise the deployment of the opposing forces after the Egyptians had moved through the pass, and prior to the Egyptians’ initial charge.
Setup is shown below. Egyptians are in yellow and Canaanites in orange:
| Insert image here. |
Scenario special rules:
1. Forces are deployed in the deployment areas allocated on the map.
2. The Egyptians move first.
3. All hills are good going
4. The walls of Megiddo are an impassable obstacle.
5. The stream is fordable anywhere along its length, but is difficult terrain for chariots.
6. The Game lasts for six turns, or until one side is decisively defeated.
The Forces:
Forces are taken from the ‘New Kingdom Egyptian’ and the Syrian and Canaanite troop types from the ‘Hittite Empire’ army lists from the ‘Chariot Wars’ supplement for WAB. Troop types and special rules from those lists apply for the scenario.
The scenario uses a troop scale of 50:1 (ie 50 men to each wargames figure or model).
The composition of forces is deduced from the various primary and secondary sources. To refight the battle, the following miniatures are needed:
The Egyptians need 22 x chariots, 30 x chariot runners, 40 x spearmen, 40 x archers, 20 x axemen, 20 x nubians and 20 x libyans.
The Canaanite Allies need 10 x 2-crew Syrian chariots, 18 x Maryannu Canaanite chariots, 30 x chariot runners, 20 x syrian spearmen, 40 x archers, 40 x canaanite hupshu, and 20 x canaanite slingers.
A detailed breakdown follows in the Order of Battle for the two armies.
EGYPTIAN ORDER OF BATTLE
Pharaoh and Royal Guard: 465pts
Pharoah (Army General)
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| Thutmose III | 4 | 5 | 5 |
4 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
2 |
10 |
160 |
| Light Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
40 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, light armour, composite bow, javelins, shield.
Special Rules: Army General
Army Standard Bearer
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 1 x Army Standard | 4 | 4 | 4 |
4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
80 |
| Light Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
40 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, light armour, composite bow, javelins, shield.
Special Rules: Army standard
Royal Chariotry - unit with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 4 x Light Chariots | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
175 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, light armour, composite bow, javelins, shield.
Special Rules: may shoot when charging
Chariot Runners
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 10 x Chariot Runners | 4 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
7 |
70 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, javelins, shield.
Special Rules: Light infantry, Chariot Runners
Amun Division: 1055pts
Brigade Commander
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 1 x Brigade
Commander |
4 | 4 | 4 |
4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
2 |
8 |
70 |
| Light Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
40 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, light armour, composite bow, javelins, shield.
Chariots - in two units each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 8 x Light Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
350 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, light armour, composite bow, javelins, shield.
Chariot Runners
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 10 x Chariot Runners | 4 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
7 |
70 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, javelins, shield.
Special Rules: Light infantry, Chariot Runners
Infantry – archer, spearman and axemen units each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 20 x Spearmen | 4 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
7 |
155 |
| 10 x Axemen | 4 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
7 |
115 |
| 20 x Archers | 4 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
7 |
155 |
| 10 x Nubians | 5 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
6 |
50 |
| 10 x Libyans | 5 | 3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
50 |
Equipment: Spearmen armed with hand weapon, throwing spear, shield
Bowmen armed with hand weapon and composite bow
Axemen armed with two handed weapon, shield, light armour
Nubians armed with hand weapon and short bow
Libyans armed with mixed weapons
Special Rules: Libyans are Light Infantry, subject to warbands rules 1 & 2
Nubians are
skirmishers
P’Re Division: (as per Amun Division) – 1055pts
Egyptian Army Total: Pharoah
and Guard - 465pts
Amun Division
-
1055pts
P’Re
Division - 1055pts
TOTAL
-
2575pts
CANAANITE ALLIED ORDER OF BATTLE
King of Qadesh's Force: 1108pts
King of Qadesh (Army General)
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 1 x Prince | 4 | 5 | 5 |
4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
3 |
9 |
160 |
| 2 Crew Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
38 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, thrusting spear, light armour, javelins, shield.
Special Rules: Army general
Army Standard
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 1 x Army Standard | 4 | 4 | 4 |
4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
2 |
8 |
73 |
| 2 Crew Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
38 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, thrusting spear, light armour, javelins, shield.
Special Rules: Army Standard
Syrian (Qadesh) Chariots - in two units each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 8 x 2 Crew Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
334 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, thrusting spear light armour, javelins, shield.
Syrian Chariot Runners
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 10 x Chariot Runners | 5 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
6 |
60 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, javelins, shield
Special Rules: Light infantry, Chariot Runners
Infantry – Spearmen, Archers and Hupshu in units of 20, each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 20 x Syrian Spearmen | 4 |
3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
6 |
135 |
| 20 x Archers | 4 |
2 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
1 |
6 |
135 |
| 20 x Syrian Hupshu | 5 |
3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
5 |
135 |
Equipment: Spearmen armed with hand weapon, thrusting spear, shield
Bowmen armed with hand weapon and composite bow
Syrian Hupshu armed with mixed weapons
Special Rules: Syrian Hupshu are light infantry
King of Megiddo's Force 828pts
King of Megiddo
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 1 x Prince | 4 | 5 | 5 |
4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
3 |
9 |
160 |
| 2 Crew Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
38 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, thrusting spear, light armour, javelins, shield.
Canaanite (Megiddo) Chariots - in two units each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 8 x Maryannu Chariots | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
7 |
310 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, light armour, composite bow.
Canaanite Chariot Runners
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 10 x Chariot Runners | 5 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
6 |
50 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, javelins
Special Rules: Light infantry, Chariot Runners
Infantry – Spearmen, Archers and Hupshu in units of 20, each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 20 x Archers | 4 |
2 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
1 |
6 |
135 |
| 20 x Syrian Hupshu | 5 |
3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
5 |
135 |
Equipment: Bowmen armed with hand weapon and composite bow
Syrian Hupshu armed with mixed weapons
Special Rules: Syrian Hupshu are light infantry
Allied Canaanite States 738pts
Allied Prince
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 1 x Prince | 4 | 5 | 5 |
4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
3 |
9 |
160 |
| 2 Crew Chariot | 8 | 4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
8 |
38 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, thrusting spear, light armour, javelins, shield.
Canaanite (allied) Chariots - in two units each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 8 x Maryannu Chariots | 8 |
4 | 4 |
3 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
2 |
7 |
310 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, light armour, composite bow
Canaanite allied Chariot Runners
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 10 x Chariot Runners | 5 | 3 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
6 |
50 |
Equipment: Armed with hand weapon, javelins
Special Rules: Light infantry, Chariot Runners
Infantry – Spearmen, Archers and Hupshu in units of 20, each with standard, musician and leader
| |
M |
WS |
BS |
S |
T |
W |
I |
A |
Ld |
Pts |
| 20 x Canaanite slingers | 5 |
2 | 3 |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
1 |
5 |
80 |
Equipment: Slingers armed with hand weapon, sling
Special Rules: Slingers are skirmishers
Canaanite Total:
Qadesh Force
-
1108pts
Megiddo Force
-
828pts
Canaanite Allied Force
-
738pts
TOTAL
-
2674pts